You know the Big Dry is serious when Christians start praying for rain.
The Anglican Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki has issued a call to prayer for suffering farmers while scientists have confirmed what everyone knows – the soil is bloody dry.
But the drought remains unofficial, pending a meeting of officials who are likely to call it today.
Archbishop David Moxon and Bishop Philip Richardson issued the cry to all people of Christ in an email.
“We pray for those whose livelihoods are founded on farming that they know they are not alone,” it reads.
“God is with them”.